Signs of the Times - July 2019

JULY 2019

PESTILENCE

SUPERBUGS, PLAGUES AND HUMANITY’S FUTURE

LESSONS FROM THE PORT ARTHUR MASSACRE

STILL STANDING after losing a child

A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD TODAY

IN THIS ISSUE

JULY 2019

PESTILENCE PAGE 32 Microscopic threats are increasing. But there is hope.

6 CURRENT

WHAT IN THE WORLD FOOTSTEPS OF A MURDERER Lessons from the Port Arthur massacre 14 STREET SIGNS Gun laws—the public speaks out 4 6

WELLBEING

16 LEADING A GREEN LIFE It’s time to get eco-

friendly 20 STILL STANDING Growing a stronger marriage after losing a child 38 GO HEALTHY FOR GOOD Health news for every body FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 2

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • JULY 2019

60

26

46 STOP THE SNIFFLES Use these simple

supermarket items 60 RECIPE Couscous-stuffed

butternut pumpkins

CULTURE

26 A SHED-FULL OF MEN

Shoulder to shoulder, getting stuff done

SCIENCE & TECH

52 THE CUTTING EDGE What’s happening in

FAITH

40 SUPERNATURAL POWER

What the Bible says about spiritual gifts 48 LAYING DOWN THE LAW God’s commandments are founded on love 54 HUMBLE FAITH Genuine Christianity is other-focused

/SIGNSOFTHETIMES

research, engineering and technology?

FUN

62 CROSSWORD & SUDOKU Have you been paying

attention? Yes, there will be a test!

FROM THE EDITOR One of the saddest features of contemporary society is the epidemic of loneliness we’re witnessing.

This is an age described as “hyper-connected” and “interactive” and yet the latest Australian census results reveal that the fastest-growing household type is the sole resident—no partner, no kids.

We were created to connect. The stark evidence comes from the orphanages of Romania where, after the ousting of Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989, dozens of dying and neurologically damaged children were discovered lying alone in their cots. They had not been bashed or starved; they had simply been denied eye contact, cuddles and babytalk.

The need for human contact continues through the lifespan. The international Men’s Shed movement is a successful strategy that even some women want to be a part of (page 26). And Daniel Kuberek’s exploration of gun violence demonstrates that the quality of human interaction has sometimes been the deciding factor in whether or not the unthinkable occurs (page 6).

Even in matters of religion, it’s important not to go it alone. A Christian without a community of fellow believers is at risk of spiritual decline and may end up with strange or even extreme views. We need encouragement. We need teaching. We need a sounding board. And, as Nathan Brown points out in “Humble Faith” (page 54), we need those who have walked the road of belief before us.

I pray that you’ll find much to encourage you in this month’s Signs of the Times. And, as you read, I hope you’ll get a very real sense that you are not alone.

Kent

KENT KINGSTON Editor

VOL 134 NO 7 ISSN 1038-9733 EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Brad Kemp EDITOR Kent Kingston ASSISTANT EDITOR Daniel Kuberek COPYEDITOR Tracey Bridcutt GRAPHIC DESIGN Nerise McQuillan Theodora Amuimuia PHONE +61 2 9847 2222 EMAIL info@signsofthetimes.org.au WEBSITE signsofthetimes.org.au ADDRESS Adventist Media PO Box 1115, Wahroonga New South Wales 2076 SUBSCRIPTIONS Kelli Geelan PHONE +61 3 5965 6300 Australia, $A26; New Zealand, $NZ26; South Pacific countries, $A41; Other countries $A51 Published since 1886, Signs of the Times is printed 11 times a year by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is registered as a periodical.

Seventh-day Adventist Church (SPD) Limited ABN 59 093 117 689 NOTE The inclusion of a person or their image within does not imply their endorsement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church or its beliefs.

Unless otherwise stated, Bible verses are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, Anglicised. Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton. All rights reserved worldwide.

COVER PHOTO: inhauscreative—Getty Images

@Kent_SignsMag JULY 2019 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

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WHAT IN THE WORLD FILL ‘ER UP New statistics show 796,970 cars were sent to Australian landfills last year—enough to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) up 445 times.

Based on the dimensions of Australia’s top-selling Toyota HiLux, the vehicles could also park nose-to-tail all the way from Sydney to Auckland and back again. Experts are worried about Australia’s growing dependence on landfill, with another million end-of-life vehicles needing a final resting place in 2019.—VACC

“BACK IN MY DAY” SOUTH KOREA

A local school in Gangjin county is combatting declining enrolments by allowing over-age students to attend, including grandparents. The country’s birthrate was, on average, one child per woman last year, with many schools in rural areas witnessing migration to the bigger cities. The school is accepting students as old as 80, many of whom struggle with illiteracy.—NY Times 4

SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • JULY 2019

THE_EVILIEST_MONKEY—FLICKR, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, LINDA LABONTE BRITT, ERIC KILBY—FLICKR, FREEPIK, KILROY79—GETTY IMAGES

AUSTRALIA

FULL HEARTS, EMPTY WALLETS NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand has the most expensive childcare in the world, according to data from a 2017/18 survey. It’s been found that a couple on an average wage with two children spend 37.3 per cent of their income on care services. Australia ranks #4, with 31.1 per cent devoted to childcare.

The Czech Republic ranks among the cheapest in the world—below 5 per cent, thanks to its Nursery and Basic School Capacity Development fund, which provides grants to care providers.—World Economic Forum

Between 2013 and 2016,

Ebola claimed

11,300+ LIVES, mainly in West Africa.—WHO

Ebola is the

MOST DEADLY

2009

EBOLA

Flu Pandemic

11,300 lives

14,000 lives

2013-2016

infectious outbreak since THE 2009

FLU PANDEMIC, which claimed

14,000+ LIVES.—CDC While the virus has been considered generally contained, it

RE-EMERGED IN CONGO in late 2018 and

NORWAY

A white beluga whale found in Norway wearing a strap is believed to be part of a Russian Navy program to use sea mammals. The whale was found harassing local fishermen near the town of Iga while exhibiting a strange harness that could hold a camera or a weapon. Once retrieved, the inside of the strap read “Equipment of St Petersburg”.—The Guardian

has CLAIMED

1000+ FATALITIES.

—Ministere de la Sante

According to WHO, the ring

VACCINATION

‘rVSV-ZEBOV-GP’ is

97.5%

effective at PREVENTING

THE DISEASE.

rVSV-ZEBOV-GP

KILLER . . . WHALE?

—ARS Technica

JULY 2019 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

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FOOTSTEPS OF A MURDERER Lessons from the Port Arthur massacre

What brings a person to use a gun to take the lives of many?

BY DANIEL KUBEREK

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IMAGES BY DANIEL KUBEREK JULY 2019 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

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I

stand in the same spot where it happened 23 years ago. There’s an eerie quietness in the air; even the birds are silent. On the ground lies a small bouquet of withered flowers. The sharp Tasmanian sun pierces through the trees, partially illuminating the grounds of what once was the bustling Broad Arrow cafe in Port Arthur, south of Hobart.

A stone exterior now occupies the space, while a rectangular water feature and a nearby inscription bear witness to the significance of where I’m standing: Death has taken its toll.

Some pain knows no release.

But the knowledge of brave compassion Shines like a pool of peace.

At the back of the small clearing

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stands a small, nondescript cross.

“In loving memory,” the inscription begins. Thirty-five names are listed, followed by “Sunday 28th April 1996, Port Arthur”.

A small passageway of shrubs guides people to where the cafe once stood. “What happened here?”— That’s the question asked by the plaque at the entrance. All Australians and many others around the world already know the answer.

Port Arthur Historic Site is a former penal colony. For 20 years, between 1833 and 1853, it housed British convicts—criminals forced to do hard labour. What stands now is a vast property of former buildings and ruins, protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage-listed site. Thousands of tourists flock to the destination to learn about an important part of Australia’s history and to enjoy the

Thirty-five people died that day and details began emerging of the heinous nature of Bryant’s crimes.

Victims as young as three and six years old were slain by Bryant’s monstrous act. Port Arthur was Australia’s worst massacre since World War II and the Federal government was swift in introducing new gun laws— some of the most restrictive in the world. Instances of mass shootings have dramatically decreased since.

These thoughts swelled through my mind as I looked at the names of those on the cross standing in front of me. In that moment, my phone went off and I looked to see a text from my mum. “Did you hear about Christchurch?” she wrote. “No. What happened?” I replied, experiencing a sick premonition that the New Zealand city had just experienced another severe earthquake.

IMAGES BY DANIEL KUBEREK

idyllic waterfront views.

But that’s not why the name Port Arthur sends a chill down my spine.

Twenty-three years ago, those views were the last to be witnessed by a number of unsuspecting visitors to the site. Twenty-eight-year-old Hobart­-born Martin Bryant had been eating at the cafe on the site when he pulled out a Colt AR-15 carbine and began shooting at random. Within 60 seconds, 20 people had been killed and another 12 wounded. He had already murdered two people on his way to the site, and continued his horrific killing spree in the nearby gift shop, car park, toll booth and service station. A tense stand-off with police ensued that night, and he was arrested the following morning, after setting fire to the guest house where he had murdered a hostage.

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“Siege,” Mum replied.

At the very moment I was standing in the location of one of Australia’s most horrific massacres, New Zealand was experiencing theirs. During my journey back to Hobart, details were emerging of what had happened in Christchurch.

A white supremacist had fired at Muslims worshipping in two different mosques, killing 50 and injuring another 50.

Adding to the highly disturbing nature of his actions, the attacker had live-streamed the first 17 minutes of his rampage on Facebook for the whole world to see. It was devastating.

It was sickening. Words are inadequate to describe these hateful acts.

New Zealand lawmakers, led by Prime Minister Jacinda Arden, were quick to denounce the crime and the role of guns.

The attacker had used semi-­ automatic rifles, shotguns and a lever-action rifle in the attack.

New Zealand’s parliament responded with sweeping changes, including banning the sale of military-style semiautomatic weapons and introducing a gun amnesty for the surrender of weapons. The scheme echoes how Australia responded to its own massacre.

These events are just part of a gun-crime epidemic sweeping across the world. The United 10

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thought processes: “I had nothing left to live for, I had literally nothing left to lose. And when you have nothing to lose, you can do anything. And that is a terrifying thought.

“I decided my act of doing something was I was going to express my rage and anger by getting a gun. I was going to attack either my school or a mall food court. It wasn’t about the people, it was about the largest amount of damage in a short amount of time.”

For Stark, the change came when a friend whose trust he had broken on multiple occasions continued to show him kindness.

“When someone treats you like a person when you don’t feel like you’re human, it’ll change your entire world. And it did to me.

He stopped me with his acts of kindness from committing that atrocity that day.”

What Stark experienced was grace—he didn’t deserve kindness and mercy, but that’s what he received. It’s the same grace that the Bible says we receive from God. Even though we’ve all rejected His guidance and authority and don’t deserve the gift of His love, He gives it anyway. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Grace can change a person’s heart, as Stark found.

“If you see someone that’s in JULY 2019 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

IMAGES BY DANIEL KUBEREK

States, in particular, has the highest rate of mass shootings in the world.

Washington Post has kept track of shootings in the US since 1966, and found that 162 mass shootings have been committed, claiming 1153 victims. A total of 309 guns have been used in these acts, 171 of which were obtained legally.

Mass shootings have affected people of different faiths and ethnicities. Muslims were the victims in Christchurch, while on November 5, 2017, 27 Christian worshippers in the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, were victims of a madman with a gun.

Earlier that year, 59 people died when a man in a Las Vegas hotel fired on people at a country music festival below. On June 12, 2016, a gunman entered an Orlando gay nightclub and began shooting, killing 50 and injuring another 53.

High school and college shootings have also devastated the United States in recent history.

Too often it’s hate that fuels gun crime. Although stricter gun laws are demonstrably effective, guns don’t kill people by themselves; it’s the person who pulls the trigger.

No-one knows this more than Aaron Stark, an ordinary American dad who, in 2018, delivered a TED talk, revealing to the world how close he came to committing a mass shooting in the 1990s.

Growing up with physically and mentally abusive, drug-addicted parents, Stark described his

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“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). All the political and religious motivations behind taking a gun and pulling the trigger are fuelled by hate. Is there a way to stop hate before anyone arms themselves, I wonder?

It’s so close to what Stark said just before walking off the stage to a standing ovation: “We have to give love to those who we think deserve it the least.”

Daniel Kuberek enjoys photography and travel, and is assistant editor of Signs of the Times. He lives in Sydney.

IMAGES BY DANIEL KUBEREK

that spot that needs love, give it to them. Love the ones who deserve it the least, because they need it the most. . . . I found my light. I’m a happy family man; I’m a father of four, my wife and my daughter are in the audience today,” Stark said.

As I stand in the spot where the piercing crackle of gunfire drowned out helpless cries, I think about how this worldwide pandemic of gun violence can stop. I never felt unsafe growing up in Australia, because of how my country responded to Port Arthur. But what can I do to prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again?

Jesus’ words come to mind:

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STREET SIGNS My husband owned several guns [on the farm]. They were always kept secure . . . sometimes you do have animals that you have to put down for several reasons. . . . It did happen on one occasion: a pack of wild dogs mauled a few of our sheep. They even got the police and they euthanased some of our animals that were suffering and dying.—Linda

My family personally has been touched by gun crime and murder. So the less crazy people get their hands on guns, the better. . . . It’s probably the funeral I’ve cried the most at, because it seemed so senseless.

It seemed so sudden. Lives were taken, like in Port Arthur, out of the blue with no rhyme or reason.—Jarrod

[Port Arthur] is where my father grew up, so he knew some of those people. . . . It left me very sad for a long time. I didn’t go back and visit the area for a couple of years until it settled down. . . . But then when I went back, I found it a very spiritual place. . . . For a lot of Tasmanians it’s still a very painful place to visit.—Sharon 14

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fhe place of GUNS? I’m very much in favour of them [gun laws], I think they’ve worked well in Australia. I have no need or desire as a citizen to use a gun. Fair enough that farmers do and whatever. I guess they’re a valid sport. Sportsmen need to be able to practise at the range. But the general public—no.—Brett

Two weeks prior to the Port Arthur massacre I was in Tasmania hiking with friends. Some continued travelling and were at Port Arthur one week to the day before it occurred. The though of “what if it had happened just a week earlier” did go though my mind. . . . I do understand guns have their time and place. But the semi-automatic aspect common to massacres—there’s no need for society to have them.—Nerise JULY 2019 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

IMAGES BY DANIEL KUBEREK

It makes me feel quite upset, and I just don’t understand why stricter laws can’t be enforced [in America]. I’m kinda against [recreational use] as well, like for hunting. . . . I mean, if there’s a specific case and they’ve gone through something really personal, maybe.—Gabrielle

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ELL B EING

LEADING A LIFE

Green

Care about the earth? It’s time to get practical.

ROMOLOTAVANI, APPLEUZR—GETTY IMAGES

BY ALICIA RENNOLL

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ith the deluge of greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere and global warming increasing the number of droughts and famines that affect people across the world, it can feel like Earth is crumbling at the hands of humans. But there are many small things that can be done to decrease your carbon footprint and help to restore Earth to something resembling its former glory.

cut down on the use of disposable plastic

Australians alone purchased more than 726 million litres of bottled water in 2015, as reported by Business Insider.

Not only is this habit far from cost effective, but the process of bottling water involves the release of 60,000 tons of greenhouse gases per year.

Recycling used water bottles does help a little, but simply abstaining from buying bottled water has a much greater effect.

Installing a high quality water filter in your home will help give you the peace of mind that the water you’re drinking is always clean, and purchasing a reusable water bottle to take on the go will help cut down on plastic waste significantly. Additionally, try to avoid pre-made food items packaged in plastic.

eat an Earth-friendly diet

Raising livestock for meat and other animal products contributes to 51 per cent of all carbon emissions. It

also contributes to greater consumption of land and water. Going vegetarian is best, but even reducing your consumption of meat to two days a week could cut carbon emissions and land and water use by 45 per cent.

Not eating so much meat can be made easier by eating fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables.

Growing an organic vegetable garden is also a great way to live a greener life. The availability of delicious produce right in your backyard means fewer trips to the shops, fewer pesticides entering the ecosystem and zero plastic packaging.

If you don’t have the space or time to grow a garden, select organic produce wherever possible, avoid items packaged in plastic, and seek out local and in-season produce.

adjust your transport habits

Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation have increased by almost 60 per cent since 1990. Transport is now Australia’s third-most significant source of greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere. Cars alone make up about half of all transport-related carbon emissions.

Despite a commitment to reduce carbon emissions by up to 28 per cent by 2030, emissions continue to rise, especially from cars and air travel. Although it may seem like one person cannot have a big effect on bringing these numbers down, every little contribution helps.

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Carpooling, public transport, cycling or walking whenever possible can all contribute in some way to reducing your carbon footprint. If it is possible to purchase groceries nearby, try walking to and from the shops instead of driving. Although this might mean smaller loads and more frequent trips, it will significantly cut down on your transportation emissions as well as boosting your health and fitness.

Alternatively, try buying in bulk and get everything you need in one trip to limit the frequency of driving to the shops.

cut down on waste

As organic materials such as food and paper products break down, they release methane into the atmosphere.

Methane has 21 times more impact on global warming than carbon dioxide. Not only that, but waste that ends up in landfill takes up precious earth that could be used much more productively. Too many bits and pieces of our rubbish end up in the oceans, threatening the lives of many aquatic animals. To counteract this, the best thing to do is to purchase fewer consumable products such as paper materials, plastic and fabrics. Say no to the notion that your furniture needs to be “updated” to avoid putting still-functional items in landfills. When getting rid of unused or outgrown belongings, try donating anything still in good condition, and recycle everything 18

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else. Additionally, cut down on food waste by making careful shopping lists and buying only what you will actually use in a reasonable length of time.

increase energy efficiency

The use of household appliances makes up about 30 per cent of all residential energy consumption, while lighting adds another 12 per cent. Energy efficiency standards have improved, resulting in reduced household electricity usage over the last decade.

However, this is not cause for complacency—energy usage can still be decreased. Turning off and unplugging all lights and appliances not in use can reduce household electricity consumption by 20 per cent.

If you haven’t already, switching old-style incandescent light bulbs for energy efficient ones like LEDs and fluorescents, will lower the impact on both your wallet and the earth. Finally, do some research into switching your energy provider to one that uses clean renewable energy.

Staying informed about the environmental impact of products and services you consume and adjusting accordingly is the most effective way to lead a greener lifestyle. Simply tweaking a few small habits can have a large impact on improving the world we live in, and creating a better future.

Alicia Rennoll is a freelance writer specialising in health, science and lifestyle.

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ELL B EING

Still

STANDING:

GROWING A STRONGER MARRIAGE AFTER LOSING A CHILD

The pain following the death of child is deeply devastating.

The best way forward for grieving parents is together.

MILANVIRIJEVIC—GETTY IMAGES

BY VICTOR PARACHIN

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oday is the first day of school and it should be my daughter’s first day in third grade. Instead she is dead.

Today many of my Facebook friends are posting pictures of their children starting school. But for my wife and myself there are no pictures, no smiles—just a deep, lingering ache that affects every part of our lives.

Those words were entered in the private journal of a father whose daughter had died in a car accident just a few months earlier. Often described as the “worst loss”, the death of a child can strain even the most robust of marriages. While some couples do end up separating and divorcing, many other marriages are still standing. These couples successfully learn how to manage loss, deal with grief, rise to various challenges

and not only remain together, but grow a stronger relationship after a child’s death.

Here are ways couples can navigate their way through this toughest of times.

don’t believe the divorce statistics.

Over the past few decades some writers of bereavement books have stated that the divorce rate after the death of a child is 80 per cent or more. Don’t believe that dismal statistic because it does not come close to the reality. The Compassionate Friends, a worldwide organisation supporting families after child loss, recently commissioned two major studies in order to investigate parenJUNE JULY 2019 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

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tal grief and divorce. Their research revealed a much more optimistic picture—that the divorce rate among couples who lose a child is 16 per cent, far less than the national divorce rate of 50.5 per cent. Furthermore, among the grieving parents who did divorce, only 40.8 per cent felt the impact of their child’s death contributed to the divorce.

So as you deal with the loss of your child, maintain a sense of optimism and hope for the future of your marriage.

“

Healing can be greatly facilitated by understanding what grief is and how it can be managed . . .

accept one another’s emotions.

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be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).

commit to getting through grief together.

Marriage, in general, requires an abundance of love, understanding, effort and teamwork. When a couple experiences the death of a child, the same qualities must be utilised: love for one another, mutual understanding, effort at working through grief and, perhaps most importantly, teamwork. Commit yourselves to getting through the crisis of your child’s death together. Verbalise your commitment by periodically reminding each other, “We’re going to do this together and find our way through it.”

Recalling their grief after the death of their son, one woman said

KATARZYNABIALASIEWICZ—GETTY IMAGES

Any­time we experience the death of someone we love, a variety of emotions erupt. Don’t run from them. Don’t hide them. Do expect them. Rabbi Earl Grollman, a grief specialist says, “Death hurts. It’s so difficult to say goodbye—to realise that in your lifetime you will never see or touch your loved one again.

Why pretend that you are not experiencing terrible inner turmoil.

Your emotions are a natural response to the death of a loved one.”

Among the range of emotions you and your partner may experience are shock, sadness, guilt, regret, anger, frustration and resentment.

Feel them, talk about them and be assured that the intensity of those feelings will ease up in time. Meanwhile, be patient with yourself and with each other. Live out the instructions of the apostle Paul, who wrote, “Be completely humble and gentle;

it was important in their relationship that that they told each other, “This is going to be hard, but I am committed to staying with you.” Shortly after their son’s death, she remembers, “We made a decision that we were going to continue to be married; that we were going to have to work at it for the other two children.

I can remember just making a vow to each other that the death of our son would not tear us apart. We held on tight and just decided that we couldn’t let this destroy us.”

support each other.

When a couple experiences a tragedy, some couples turn on each other while others turn to each other.

“Shared suffering can draw a couple together,” says Harold Ivan Smith, a noted grief authority.

He cites the example of President John F Kennedy and his wife, Jackie.

“On August 9, 1963, two-day-old Patrick Bouvier Kennedy died. The nation’s heart went out to the grieving First Family. Although he was president, John F Kennedy rearranged his schedule to spend 23 days in isolation with Jackie, Caroline and John. Aides and friends witnessed a new closeness between the couple. . . . Patrick’s death brought them together.”

learn about grief together.

Healing can be greatly facilitated by understanding what grief is and how it can be managed. Become students of grief together as a couple. Read books and magazine articles. Register for bereavement workshops. Attend lectures on grief recovery. Watch TV or streaming programs about loss.

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Then discuss together what you are learning, what is helping you; what inspires and brings you hope. The knowledge you gain will give you power over the impact of grief.

rally the troops.

“In times of crisis silence is not golden,” says Rabbi Grollman. Reach out for support from extended family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.

Seek out helpers and comforters— people with whom you can freely share your feelings without being corrected or scolded. Rabbi Grollman says, “We all need the support of others . . . A good friend can be a lifeline, someone you can talk to honestly, someone who will not judge you, but accept you as you are.”

participate in a support group.

While the majority of people who grieve do not need to see a professional counsellor or therapist, most grievers do benefit greatly by participating in a grief support group. After Jane’s son died due to cancer, she and her partner joined a local chapter of Compassionate Friends. “The group was a lifeline for both of us,” she says.

“From our first meeting we instantly felt understood because everyone else there had been through a similar loss.

We also gained not only practical information about dealing with loss, but inspiration by seeing others who had successfully coped with and survived the devastating loss of a child. Our support group made all the difference in the world.”

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be a grateful griever.

Of course, when a child dies it’s challenging to find ways of expressing gratitude. Yet, the Bible does say to “give thanks in all circumstances” (I Thessalonians 5:18). Here’s an inspiring example of one who applied this biblical principle. Archibald Campbell Tait (1811–1882) was Archbishop of Canterbury. Between March 11 and April 18, 1856, Rev Tait and his wife lost five of their six daughters to an epidemic of scarlet fever. After burying his fifth daughter, Rev Tait penned this prayer: “O God, You have dealt very mysteriously with us.

We have been passing through deep waters. . . . [the children] are gone from us. Yet . . . I thank you for the blessing of the last 10 years, and for all the sweet memories of these lives. . . . O, Lord, comfort our hearts.”

stay connected.

Though you may have different grieving styles, be sure that you nurture your connection as a couple. Brook Noel and Pamela Blair, authors of I Wasn’t Ready To Say Goodbye, offer this wisdom for couples: “Make time to spend with each other. Don’t shut each other out or you will be strangers when you get to the other side of grief. Schedule at least 30 minutes a day to sit together.

Try and talk to each other about your feelings and challenges of the day. If talking is too difficult right now, just hold hands or hold each other.”

This kind of daily connection, whether physical or verbal, allows

each partner know that the relationship is important and that a close connection continues to be desired.

remain hopeful.

No matter how drained you feel, no matter how little progress you may be experiencing, remain hopeful that the steps you are taking and the work you are doing will eventually put you in a better place. “Bear in mind that the pain of grief is usually worst right before we make progress in our grief work,” says Dr Bill Flatt, a marriage counsellor and author of Growing Through Grief. “As the old saying goes, ‘It’s always darkest just before the dawn.’ So if you find yourself in a particularly dark time right now, perhaps it means some real progress is just around the corner. Keep looking for that light! The future is bright in spite of the present gloom: hang on to that truth.”

As you and your partner make the journey through grief, continue reminding yourselves that the pain of grief eases, even if it never quite ends.

Let this wisdom from Rabbi Harold Kushner bring you inspiration to keep moving forward: “We can endure much more than we think we can; all human experience testifies to that. All we need to do is learn not to be afraid of pain. Grit your teeth and let it hurt. Don’t deny it; don’t be overwhelmed by it. It will not last forever. One day, the pain will be gone and you will still be there.”

Victor Parachin is a minister from Oklahoma, USA, and the author of a number of books on themes of grief and faith.

4

WAYS TO HELP GRIEVING PARENTS

Be an effective helper by adhering to these four simple ways of supporting a parent in grief:

1. LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN. Parents in grief need to tell and retell the story of their loss. With each telling, a layer of pain is removed. It’s much like peeling an onion layer by layer. Say very little yourself and allow the parents to do most of the talking.

2. AVOID CLICHES AND TRITE RESPONSES. Too often, grieving parents hear insensitive comments, such as “your child is in a better place”, “you can have other children” or “you need to get over this”. Such comments are hurtful, not helpful. Instead, respond with supportive statements, such as “I’m sorry”, “I care about you” or “I want to be helpful”.

3. BE PATIENT. Grief takes time— longer than most people assume.

Don’t rush a grieving parent through the grief process. It ends when it ends.

4. KEEP CHECKING IN. Be there for the long haul. The majority of friends drop away shortly after the funeral. Yet the weeks and months that follow are when a grieving parent is most in need of a supportive friend.

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CU

LT U R E

shed-full

A OF MEN

(and the occasional woman)

Many men resist opening up to one another about their emotions and struggles. But introduce a toolbox and a practical project—all kinds of problems will get fixed.

BY SUVI MAHONEN 26

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IMAGES SUPPLIED BY MEN’S SHED

O

n Valentine’s Day, 2011, Noel Findley’s heart was racing as he walked up the path towards a large, nondescript shed, in Cessnock, NSW. But it wasn’t for romantic reasons that his heart was aflutter. Rather it was anxiety at the thought of spending time with a bunch of strange men.

Having been forced into early retirement due to health problems, Findley, a boilermaker by trade, had spent most of the past six years at home, battling depression.

“I would be sitting in the lounge and I’d just start crying,” Findley said. “It seemed that the weight of the world was on my shoulders.”

He had tried to hide his true feelings from his wife. “I put on a mask,” Findley said. “I didn’t want to drag her down with me.”

Findley, who was 63 at the time, sorely missed the mateship and banter that came with his former work at the local council. He had no close friends and no-one to talk to apart from his wife.

Since that day at the Cessnock Men’s Shed things have changed for the better.

“When I went into the shed someone came up to me and said, ‘Do you want to do something?’” Findley said. “They needed a guard for a fan belt so I grabbed some steel and welded one together. And they said, ‘Oh, that was quick,’ and that’s when I knew this place was for me.”

According to experts, loneliness and social isolation are strongly associated with a range of physical and mental health conditions, including depression and an increase in the suicide rate.

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Canada and the USA. One of the objectives of the association is to promote men’s health programs in a way that is best summarised by the AMSA’s official motto: “Men don’t talk face to face, they talk shoulder to shoulder.”

“Years ago the theory was that you get a dozen men in a room with a facilitator and sit them down and say, ‘Okay, let’s all talk about our problems,’” AMSA’s chief executive David Helmers said. “Now you can imagine—a dozen burly blokes in that scenario, it just doesn’t work.

But the way the men’s shed works is if you take those same dozen blokes but replace the facilitator with a broken lawnmower, give them some tools, and say, ‘Fix this lawnmower,’ then if you come back in a few hours they would have discussed all their

IMAGES SUPPLIED BY MEN’S SHED

In 2010, as part of the Australian Government’s first ever national male health policy, $A3 million was granted to the Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) in recognition of the fact that “men’s sheds play an important role in the community by providing meeting places where men can find support and camaraderie”.

The policy went on to state that “healthy social networks provide males with similar positive benefits to successful marriages” and that men’s sheds were “a way of establishing friendships and social networks, and engaging in purposeful activity.”

The AMSA was formed in 2007, combining a number of sheds that had spontaneously arisen throughout the country. The concept has proved so popular that chapters have sprung up in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand,

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problems and they’ll be having a And a 2013 study conducted by very open conversation. Perhaps the the Centre for Research on Ageing, lawnmower still won’t work, but it Health and Wellbeing found that men’s depression increased in later was irrelevant in the first place.” life, compared to women.

During Helmers’ long association Given these findings, and the with the men’s shed movement, fact that one of the stated major he has seen the AMSA grow from objectives of the AMSA is to “adaround 50 sheds to more than 980 around Australia today. “There are vance the wellbeing and health of more men’s sheds than there are their male members”, some view as McDonald’s,” he controversial said. “I would the association’s estimate that up decision to admit to a quarter of a “community million blokes in sheds” that are Australia attend open to female men’s sheds in members. some capacity.”

Helmers Men don’t talk The AMSA chuckled and is a loose that not face to face, they agreed association, with all have been talk shoulder to each shed being happy with independently the decision. shoulder. run. It will admit “The debate’s any shed that been around meets safety for years,” he standards as said. “But to be long as the shed honest it hasn’t is a community-based, non-profit, really been a big issue. It’s purely a non-commercial organisation that thing for the local sheds to decide. is accessible to all men and whose “Generally we find with women primary activity is the provision of a joining the sheds that they want to safe and friendly environment where learn skills or they’ve got a very good men are able to work at meaningful reason for wanting to join, but they projects. fully respect that it’s a male domain,” Although men of all ages are welhe said. “It’s very small numbers.

Some sheds will have specific womcome to attend, the vast majority are in the post-retirement demographic. en’s days. Some will have a formal Some studies show that retirement women’s auxiliary group.” can increase the likelihood of clinical Jan Morgan, 76, is a member of depression by up to 40 per cent. the Grawin-Glengarry-Sheepyards

“

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Opal Fields Men’s Shed. The shed has 20 members, four of whom are women. “I think women can contribute a lot to the sheds,” she said. “Out here on the fields there’s a lot of the girls who go mining, they drive trucks, they start generators . . . so we all work together to do what we’re capable of doing. And we women get friendship and social interaction from the shed, same as the men.”

Morgan admits that some of the men were against her joining at first, but have since accepted it, particularly when they saw the benefits. “When I make scones with strawberry jam and fresh cream, I do four dozen in one hit and they go in five minutes,” she said.

Community development volunteer and journalist Ian McDougall, of Southport, Queensland, encouraged his father, Ronald McDougall, to join a men’s shed when he noticed 30

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that his father, who was 77 at the time, was becoming depressed. “But the shed didn’t really suit him,” McDougall said. “He wasn’t a woodworker and with hearing loss found communication and engagement difficult in that environment.”

This inspired McDougall to come up with an alternative. “I called my idea ‘Blokes Lounge’ and envisioned a house or someplace where men could meet in an informal environment and come and go as they pleased,” he said.

McDougall floated his idea on local media and in October 2012, seven men formed a “Blokes Lounge”, who, in the early days, met in the Broadbeach library. Since then the group has steadily grown and it now boasts 74 members who meet fortnightly at the Surfers Paradise Golf Club.

McDougall is happy to defend the fact that they do not allow women at

IMAGES SUPPLIED BY MEN’S SHED

The 7th National Men’s Shed Conference (Gold Coast, 2017) brought together shedders from Australia to talk all things sheds, community and men’s health. The national gathering is biennial and often attracts shed enthusiasts from abroad.

Maleny Men’s Shed (Qld) is co-located with the Pioneer Village. The Historical Society, in conjunction with the Men’s Shed, constructed a blacksmith shop that is manned by shedders.

their meetings. “We want an environment where men are comfortable with other men and able to talk about issues from a male perspective,” he said.

Rollo Meyers, 79, a retired dentist, says being part of Blokes Lounge gives him a sense of self-worth and friendship. “Our members come from all different walks of life,” he said. “The diversity in Blokes Lounge is so disparate—more than any other organisation I’ve ever been in.”

He agrees with McDougall that men need their own groups to belong to. “Women often like different things to men, like my wife has her girlfriends and she likes touring and shopping, whereas in general men like a bit more action and adventure, so when we get home at night time we’ve got different things to talk about,” he said.

Meyers believes the most significant aspect of the group is the

mateship that men gain. “That’s very important to the guys because they can talk with other men about personal matters; things they wouldn’t necessarily discuss with other people,” he said.

As for Findley, he remains happy with the Cessnock Men’s Shed, and believes that men’s groups like these are invaluable. “It made me realise I’m not worthless,” Findley said.

He wants other men to know that the benefits of belonging to a group far outweigh any shyness about joining. “Just do it,” he said. “Once you get over that initial contact, you will find that the blokes are really accepting.”

Suvi Mahonen is a freelance journalist who lives on the Gold Coast with her family. This article first appeared in The Australian. Used with permission.

Find your closest Men’s Shed at <mensshed.org.> or <menzshed.org.nz>.

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CU

R RENT

PESTILENCE Superbugs, viral outbreaks, the steady encroachment of malarial mosquitoes. Is there any hope?

M

atthew didn’t die last night, but he will.”

Just days before doctors delivered this grim news, in June 2012, Matthew Ames, an engineer from Brisbane, had woken with flulike symptoms and a throat so sore that he visited a GP. Unbeknown to that GP, his sore throat was

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courtesy of the Group A Streptococcus bacteria, which is also responsible for impetigo, cellulitis, scarlet fever and, indirectly, rheumatic fever. The bacteria in Matthew’s “Strep throat” found a breach in his defences somewhere, and quietly slipped into his bloodstream. As he sought medical attention several times, and

INHAUSCREATIVE—GETTY IMAGES

BY JULIE HOEY

was repeatedly sent home with painkillers, the bacteria were multiplying rapidly, and his condition worsened daily. By the time he was admitted to hospital, the bacterial population coursing through his bloodstream had released large amounts of toxin which, in turn, had ruptured the membranes of Matthew’s red blood

cells, rendering them useless. Muscle and tissue throughout his body had started to die, releasing additional toxins into his bloodstream, and his organs were shutting down. Within three days of his hospital admission, both Matthew’s arms and legs were amputated to improve his chances of survival from zero to one per cent.

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With the incredible medical advances of the twentieth century, we tend to think we have the upper hand over infectious diseases like the toxic shock experienced by Matthew Ames. However, while this invasive Strep A infection had become virtually non-existent by the early twentieth century, it began re-emerging in the late 1980s. And there was more. As infectious diseases researcher Frank Bowden writes in Gone Viral: The Germs That Share Our Lives: “Australian Nobel laureate Macfarlane Burnet signalled ‘the end of infectious diseases’ in a number of his lectures and books in the 1970s. . . . So [in 1985] the appearance of a virus that seemed to slowly kill everyone who contracted it was as much a shock for the medical world as it was for the general population.”

He was, of course, talking about HIV/AIDS, the first of many epidemics of highly fatal infectious diseases that challenge our complacent sense of control.

Two decades later, in its 2007 World Health Report, the World Health Organization (WHO) noted that “infectious diseases are now spreading geographically much faster than at any time in history” and that, due to the billions of airline passengers each year, “an outbreak or epidemic in any one part of the world is only a few hours away from becoming an imminent threat somewhere else.” Further, they reported that new infectious diseases “appear to be emerging more quickly than ever before” with the existence of “nearly 40 diseases that were unknown a generation ago”.

3 more plagues that threaten our species . . .

1. that high-pitched whine It’s not just malaria that’s moving into more temperate regions as global temperatures warm. Other mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus, dengue fever, and chikungunya are showing up more frequently in the population centres of the USA, Western Europe and southern Australia.

—Scientific American/New Daily

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The first outbreak of Ebola in human populations occurred in 1976, with small outbreaks occurring every year or two since then. To the mainstream world, they were insignificant; most people never heard about it. However, the 2014–2016 outbreak in West Africa had, according to WHO figures, “more cases and deaths . . . than all others combined”, with more than 28,000 cases in three countries, and more than 11,000 deaths. Eleven patients were treated in the United States, two of whom died, and two nurses caring for these patients contracted the disease but recovered. Now everyone knows the word Ebola. However, despite a new vaccine and improved treatments, a 2018 outbreak in the war-ravaged Democratic Republic of Congo perplexed international

organisations, including the WHO, as they struggled to arrest its spread.

For all our knowledge and technology, and our attempts to control our environment, it would seem that, as journalist Elisa Gabbert observed, “it’s the microbes and insects that run things”. And humans have created the conditions for the surge in these illnesses. In addition to the impact of air travel, humans have provided crowded populations through which an infection can rampage. Changes in climate have increased the reach of diseases such as malaria, as warm tropical weather expands its boundaries. World Bank figures indicate that by 2050, malaria-bearing mosquitos will be part of life for 5.2 billion people.

Already, malaria has moved into the cool highland regions of East

3. tread carefully A recent outbreak of anthrax in Siberia alerted scientists and governments to a new threat. After thousands of years of immobility, ancient strains of bacteria are being released as permafrost thaws in the soils of the far north.

The concern is that humans will have no natural immunity to the bacteria and viruses that may be released.—Scientific American

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NECHAEV-KON—GETTY IMAGES

2. unstoppable fungus Like antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, the emerging fungal growth candida auris has so far shaken off every antifungal treatment thrown at it. Hospitals have been reluctant to go public about outbreaks, but the United States Centers for Disease Control has labelled it an “urgent threat”.—New York Times

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“

[Jesus] healed the outcasts, the unworthy, the untouchable.

Generations of Christians since then have used their talents to be faithful to that calling.

surprising—some translations of the Bible warn of “pestilences” as one of the signs of the imminent end of the world (Matthew 24:7, KJV).

Even before climate change and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, there was sickness and suffering. They are not new entities.

But there is hope. Christianity has at its heart the promise of a better world to come, a renewed earth in which God will wipe every tear from our eyes. “There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). This hope provides an underlying peace when we know that, even if our best efforts fall short, eventually everything will be put right.

Not that this should result in complacency or reckless disregard for our earth. God loves this planet.

LAFLOR—GETTY IMAGES

Africa, where it has not previously existed. And our well-intentioned attempts to eradicate malaria in the mid-twentieth century selectively bred insecticide­resistant mosquito populations. Scientist and trail­blazing environmentalist Rachel Carson soberly noted that “the insect enemy has been made stronger by our efforts”.

Finally, largely through the use of antibiotics in animals, humans have encouraged anti-microbial resistant bacteria, which now account for 700,000 deaths per year. Like the resurgence in invasive Strep A infection that began in the mid1980s, tuberculosis rates also began increasing at that time—in large part due to antibiotic resistance. The WHO has identified these “superbugs” as one of the greatest threats to global health, labelling them a “global health emergency” and forecasting that they could kill up to 10 million people by 2050.

It’s a bleak picture, and can appear quite hopeless. As Colorado journalist Brian Calvert writes in his pensive High Country News article, grimly titled “How to Face the Ecocide”, “We humans are a disastrous species, as bad for the Earth as a meteor strike, and the realisation of this had established in me a new kind of sadness, a mixture of guilt and mourning for a loss yet to come.”

Similarly, the biblical worldview is that we live in a fundamentally broken world. An uptick in diseases and plagues should not be entirely

According to the Bible, He wanted humans to “rule over” the natural world (Genesis 1:26)—which is widely interpreted as asking us to be wise custodians. We were meant to look after the earth, not pillage it. In the book of Revelation, God is called upon to “destroy those who destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:18).

Indeed, Jesus’ example to His followers was to help whenever possible. In particular, He healed the outcasts, the unworthy, the untouchable. Generations of Christians since then have used their particular talents to be faithful to that calling.

Emeritus Professor Dr Warren Grubb is just one example. A deeply committed Christian, his research into antibiotic-resistant “Golden Staph” led to the development of world-leading policies to prevent its spread in hospitals. Through his

research, episodes of “superbug” outbreaks have been contained, saving lives and reducing health care costs. In addition, Grubb has, for decades, spent his personal time educating people about healthy living and working hard on the ground to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal communities.

Matthew Ames and his family were grateful for the sliver of hope offered to them when faced with certain death. Incredibly, the removal of all four limbs saved his life, a decision Ames never questioned. Through the whole ordeal, his children witnessed “the value of fighting for the wellbeing of others, because they saw how hard medical specialists worked to find the answers.”

Julie Hoey is a qualified science and maths teacher and librarian. She lives in Mulbring, NSW, with her husband and tween daughter. Matthew Ames’ story is told in his memoir Will to Live (Penguin, 2014).

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W

ELL B EING

GO HEALTHY for good WITH

DR NERIDA MCKIBBEN

ACTIVE KIDS ARE HEALTHY KIDS

THEORY FULL OF HOLES

Is tooth decay due to nature or nurture? To answer that question, a group of Australian researchers studied 345 twins. They figured that if tooth decay was genetic, there should be higher concordance in identical twins who share 100 per cent of their genes and less concordance in non-identical twins, who only share 50 per cent. So they followed 150 twins for six years and found rates of dental caries were the same in identical and non-identical twins.

So it’s not the genes, it’s food choices and dental hygiene.—Pediatrics 38

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THINK BIG . . . OR NOT

A new study that looked at thousands of MRI brain scans has found more body fat is linked to less grey matter in certain areas of the brain. It is also linked to altered white matter in the brain, though it is too early to know how these changes affect brain function.

—Radiology

SEVENTYFOUR, PIXELFIT, BUNYOS, ROSSHELEN,PEOPLEIMAGES—GETTY IMAGES, BROOKE LARK—UNSPLASH

For the first time, the World Health Organization has released guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for under five-year olds. At least 30 minutes a day of “tummy time” is recommended for those under one, along with plenty of floor-based play. They should not be left in a car seat or stroller for more than an hour at a time. By two years of age, three hours of physical activity per day is the goal, including vigorous play, preferably outdoors. Screen-time is discouraged before two, with no more than one hour a day for older children.—WHO

DON’T JUST SIT THERE

A recent study followed nearly 150,000 Australians for nine years, and found those taking little or no exercise and sitting for more than eight hours a day were 50 per cent more likely to die than those who spent less than four hours a day sitting.

Researchers found that just 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day was enough to counteract the health risks associated with prolonged sitting. Sitting for more than eight hours a day required more vigorous exercise in order to normalise risk.

—American College Cardiology/HealthDay

BOWEL CANCER RISKS New research shows that 540 grams of red meat (or just 175g of processed meat) per week can increase the risk of bowel cancer by 20 per cent. Every bottle of beer or glass of wine per day raised the risk by 8 per cent. Conversely, a high-fibre intake lowered the risk by 14 per cent, compared to a low-fibre intake. With bowel cancer the number two cancer killer in New Zealand, cutting out processed meats, eating less red meat and avoiding alcohol would save many lives.

—University of Auckland

EAT TO LIVE

Skipping breakfast and eating dinner within two hours of bedtime increases the risk of obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A Brazilian study assessed 120 people who’d suffered a heart attack. They found that those who usually skipped breakfast and ate dinner late, were four to five times more likely to die, have another heart attack or experience angina within 30 days of discharge from hospital.

—Preventive Cardiology Dr Nerida McKibben, a New Zealand obstetrician and gynaecological surgeon, passionately enables people to achieve their greatest health potential. Wanting everyone to live life to the fullest, she integrates wholistic principles into medical treatments and procedures. For more, go to www.hop.ec/gohealthyforgood JULY 2019 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

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FA IT H

Supernatural While movie superheroes can rarely be trusted to use their powers responsibly, the Holy Spirit is ready with gifts that will transform the world.

BY KENT KINGSTON

I

t’s revealing that in our increasingly secular culture, people still have a hunger for the magical— the transcendent. Consider the top-grossing movies of 2018, for example. According to the-numbers. com, six of the top 10 were superhero movies, flying, fighting, and blasting their way off the screen and through our wallets. Like the ancient gods of Greek mythology,

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these superheroes struggle with doubt, jealousy and betrayal—all our human failings amped up with spectacularly destructive results.

While movie scriptwriters create plots that transparently explore contemporary issues and concerns— gender relations, racism, climate change—I believe there’s deeper psychology involved. Many of us look around the world, bewildered

at the pace of change and struggling to comprehend the various threats of annihilation we face, whether it be via nuclear war, the mass extinction of plant and animal species, or even the off-chance of an asteroid impact. It’s hard to know how to cope or what to feel.

One feeling is common: powerlessness. So when we see superheroes prevailing against villains bent on

destroying the nation, the world or even the universe, it allows us, for a blissful 90 minutes, to glimpse the tantalising possibility of hope; that change is possible; that there are some people (ourselves perhaps?) who might possibly be empowered to make a difference.

But what if it’s not just fiction?

What if that thrill within us at vicariously experiencing world-changing JULY 2019 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

KEVIN CARDEN—ADOBE STOCK

POWER

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you will receive power

If anyone had the right to feel powerless it was the group of men and women who called themselves disciples of Jesus the Nazarene. In one of the final scenes of John’s Gospel we see them huddled in a tightly locked house, mourning the shocking and sudden execution of their Rabbi and fearing that the ruthless soldiers of the Roman Empire might seek them out next.

Without warning, Jesus is standing among them alive and well, but with the injuries from His crucifixion clearly visible—there’s no doubt it’s Him. “‘Peace be with you!’” He greets them. “‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John 20:21,22).

Receive the Holy Spirit. But what did those words actually mean?

New Testament writer Luke records Jesus’ additional instructions: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with 42

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the Holy Spirit. . . . you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:4–8). Gift? Baptised? Power?

Again, it wasn’t clear to the disciples exactly what Jesus was talking about.

But in the next chapter of Luke’s book, Acts of the Apostles, the reality of Jesus’ promise begins to be revealed: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. . . . When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language. . . . we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues. . . . What does this mean?’”

(Acts 2:1–12).

What it meant was the beginning of the Christian movement— explosive growth throughout the Roman Empire. Acts recounts a series of events in which these Christ-­followers not only suddenly spoke in foreign languages, but

SAY-CHEESE—GETTY IMAGES

power is a faint echo of something that is in fact real? “He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end,” says Ecclesiastes 3:11, telling us that our thirst for the transcendent is not just wishful thinking, but a hint of a greater reality.

healed the sick, raised the dead, escaped prison, teleported, predicted the future and demonstrated incredible insight and courage that amazed even their enemies—“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

It’s clear though, that none of these “superpowers” came from the Christians themselves—these incredible gifts were from the Holy Spirit working through them. A number of Bible commentators have quipped that Acts of the Apostles really should have been named Acts of the Holy Spirit as this would be a more accurate descriptor of the events described.

what are spiritual gifts?

A number of spiritual gifts are mentioned within the New Testa-

ment—from prophecy to preaching, healing to hospitality (see page 44 for more details). Some are obviously supernatural, others are more everyday abilities only recognised as miraculous by those close to the action. (If I could suddenly juggle chainsaws or do complicated mathematical equations in my head, for example, that would truly be a miracle, even though others can do these things naturally.) The speaking in tongues event recorded in Acts 2 provides us with some important points about genuine spiritual gifts:  Spiritual gifts are given to believers. It doesn’t matter whether the believer is new in the faith or more experienced and knowledgeable, spiritual gifts are reserved for those who have surrendered their lives completely to Jesus. Yes, the Holy Spirit still speaks to the hearts of unbelievers—they may even see miracles—but this differs from the ongoing presence of a spiritual gift.

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 Spiritual gifts are for the benefit of others. The way of Jesus is based on the principle of servanthood, so the proper use of a believer’s time, effort and gifts should not be self-serving, but directed to helping other people. The Spirit­ driven impulse of the disciples in Acts 2 was to immediately use their new gift to “declare the wonders of God” to others. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).  Spiritual gifts are diverse. Acts 2 recounts how the believers spoke in different languages, while the apostle Peter began to preach powerfully in the local language and, in the next chapter, healed a man who had been unable to walk from birth. All of these gifts were necessary to demonstrate

He gives good gifts

that God’s kingdom had begun to infiltrate Earth. All of these gifts—and more—worked in harmony to change lives and spread the message of Jesus. “There are different kinds of gifts but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:4,5).

where’s my superpower?

Maybe you’re wondering, If this is all true, why don’t I see spiritual gifts in active use today? Many others have asked the same thing.

“You’re not looking hard enough,” might be the immediate retort from a believer. And it’s a valid point. If you spend enough time with genuine Christians, you’ll begin to hear stories of lives transformed and events that defy logic. The Holy Spirit is indeed active in people’s lives—He is giving them abilities they didn’t have before and guiding them to accom-

A TREASURE HUNT

Different lists of spiritual gifts are provided in the New Testament. There’s overlap between the lists as well as unique gifts mentioned in each list. This suggests there are a larger number and variety of spiritual gifts than those listed.

Read these passages that each mention one or more spiritual gifts: • Romans 12:6–8 • 1 Corinthians 7:7,8 • 1 Corinthians 12:8–10 • 1 Corinthians 13:1–3

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• 1 Corinthians 14:26 • Ephesians 4:11 • 1 Peter 4:9,10

of the Spirit’s power? The Bible says yes: “Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:28,29).

The apostle Peter quoted these verses to explain the miraculous events of Acts 2, but there’s every reason to believe that Joel’s ancient prophecy awaits a further and final fulfilment.

The Holy Spirit can’t be forced or hurried. His power will be released at the right time and in the right way.

You may have sensed His presence and guidance already—He often speaks in a “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12). He has a unique set of gifts designed for you. The first step is to learn how to listen.

Kent Kingston is an Ant Man, Wonder Woman and Unbreakable fan who lives with his family in NSW’s Lake Macquarie region. He serves as editor of Signs of the Times magazine.

To recognise your spiritual gifts, consider each of the gifts in these lists carefully. Write them down separately on a sheet of paper. Pray for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, asking Him to reveal to you which gift(s) He has given you or wants to give you. Discuss your search with some mature Christians—seek their guidance. And if God is leading you toward a particular conclusion, begin to use the gift He’s given you and prayerfully review the outcomes.

JULY 2019 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

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plish things they never thought they were capable of. Miracles still happen—“coincidences” that prove to be crucial turning points and even events like unexpected recoveries from terminal illnesses.

But having said that, we’re not seeing spectacular Acts-like growth in the numbers of Jesus’ followers today—at least in the West—let alone a series of public supernatural events that transcend rational explanation. But this kind of spiritual lull is not unprecedented.

In 1 Samuel 3:1 we read: “In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.” Sound familiar? Similarly, in Jesus’ parable of the 10 bridesmaids, who are symbolic of believers awaiting Jesus’ second coming, all 10 of them fell asleep, both the wise and the foolish (Matthew 25:1–13).

Should we expect an awakening?

A disruption of the lull? A fresh wind

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W

ELL B EING

STOP THE SNIFFLES WITH THESE SIMPLE SUPERMARKET ITEMS With winter upon us, we find ourselves searching for tips, tricks and potions to keep coughs and colds at bay.

BY SANITARIUM HEALTH FOOD COMPANY

W

hile a single food may not hold the answer to stopping a cold in its tracks, there’s a powerful combination of foods that will help keep your immune system in tip-top shape, and that’s your best natural defence against coughs and colds. So give your immune system a helping hand by making sure your shopping basket includes the following healthy items.

HEALTHY GUT FOODS It all starts in your tummy. A healthy immune system needs to be supported by good intestinal bacteria. For this you need prebiotics and probiotics. Prebiotics are nondigestible food ingredients, such as fibre, that promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the intestines.

Probiotics are live bacteria that are beneficial to your intestinal microorganisms. You’ll find them in some fermented foods such as yoghurt, sauerkraut and kimchi. Many outlets are now stocking a much larger range of probiotic foods. And

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there’s an important relationship between pre- and probiotic foods. Your intestinal tract needs the prebiotics to feed the probiotics. Your intestinal bacteria depend on a daily supply of prebiotic-rich fibre in order to stay healthy.

HEALTHY FATS Need another reason to smash an avo on your toast? Healthy fats help regulate your immune system’s response to infection. So make sure your shopping trolley includes foods like avocado and nuts. A handful of nuts at least five times a week can provide a good source of zinc, which will also help boost your immunity.

POWERFUL PLANTS Phytonutrients are chemicals released from plants that help them stay healthy— you can reap the same benefits by eating plenty of plant foods. Why not try some of our shopping basket essentials for a strong immune system?

SHOPPING BASKET ESSENTIALS HEALTHY GUT FOODS Keep your intestinal tract happy by eating foods full of probiotics (sourdough, kefir, yoghurts and sauerkraut) and prebiotics (whole grains, legumes and veggies such as Jerusalem artichokes, asparagus and onions).

HEALTHY FATS Healthy fats are really beneficial to your immune system, so fill your shopping list with yummy foods such as avocado, almonds, cashews, walnuts and olive oil. These will help boost your immunity and protect your immune system from infection.

PEOPLEIMAGES—GETTY IMAGES

POWERFUL PLANTS Eat the rainbow! Plants contain a tremendous amount of natural goodness, and your fridge should be full of them. During your next trip to the shops, throw in some coriander, turmeric, cumin, carrots, berries, spinach and lots of other spices, herbs and veggies to stay fighting fit this winter.

Article courtesy of Sanitarium Health Food Company. Visit sanitarium.com.au or sanitarium. co.nz and subscribe to Wholicious Living for more great health and nutrition info each month.

JULY 2019 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

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FA IT H

N W O D G N I Y LA

THE LAW

It takes maturity to move beyond our knee-jerk resistance to rules and understand the purpose behind them.

BY BJORN KARLMAN

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forgotten what it was like being a student.

Ironically enough, seven years after I completed my studies, I decided to volunteer at the same school for a year doing administrative and teaching work. It was a little strange being back. Some of the teachers I had terrorised as a teen were still there, including my long-suffering art teacher. They no doubt found it highly entertaining to see me enforcing some of the very rules I had protested as a student. I had done a virtual 180-degree turnaround!

As much as I still found the lunch queue rule a bit arbitrary, there were other rules concerning classroom conduct, corridor navigation, curfew and other issues that made abundant sense to me now that the wellbeing of students was my responsibility. Now that I saw the big picture, I was grateful for some structure as I struggled to follow lesson plans without losing control of my flock of uniformed cherubs. The rules and boundaries that governed school life were really helpful when it came to ensuring a quality environment for learning and safe personal development.

In much the same way, God’s law sets boundaries that we as humans are called to respect in order to live happy, fulfilling lives. The Ten Commandments, for example, are not an arbitrary collection of rules that are impractical or not based in reality.

If you murder, commit adultery or

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ooking back at my school days, I pity my teachers. I was a bit of a handful and enjoyed nothing more than questioning the rules. I went to a British boarding school in my teens and it felt like my entire life was governed by a suffocating set of rules that regulated everything from dining etiquette to the colour of my socks. It seemed as though every hour from wake-up to bedtime was governed by a set of bells that echoed through the school. I’ve always had a rebellious streak and I did not enjoy what I saw as a stale set of regulations that took the joy out of school life.

Why couldn’t my teachers just get a life and relax a little? Why was the school rule book so rigid and unimaginative? It was downright unfair as far as I was concerned.

One rule that I found particularly annoying involved the daily lunch queue. The line of students hungrily awaiting their meals would invariably be long, but if you were a teacher you were allowed to cut to the front of the queue. I railed against the apparent injustice of this and angrily questioned my art teacher about it.

Weren’t we students as hungry as our overlords? I remember him telling me that if I were a teacher I would see the value of the rule. I dismissed his comment as out-of-touch defensiveness from someone who had long since

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steal, negative consequences naturally follow. Keeping God’s law allows for harmonious, meaningful living.

Breaking the law is a recipe for heartache and trouble.

God gave us the law because of His love for us as our heavenly Father. He gave it to us out of His concern for our wellbeing. Jesus said that the greatest of all laws is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”, and to “love your neighbour as yourself ” (Matthew 22:37,38). Love is the starting point for the law. Just as rules made by a concerned earthly parent come from a place of love and a desire to protect, God’s law shows how He feels about us. It shows how He desires the best for our lives.

Romans 13:10 says that love also “is the fulfillment of the law”. It is born out of relationship and it is a demonstration of that relationship.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments” (1 John 5:3). We show our gratitude and love for God by obeying His law. Keeping God’s law is how we demonstrate our loyalty to Him. The Bible is clear that during the last days of Earth’s history those who are faithful to God will keep His commandments and the faith of Jesus (Revelation 14:12).

It’s popular in some Christian circles to claim that when Jesus died on the cross, He did away with the law. That is simply not the case. In His sermon on the mount, Jesus made clear that He had not come to abolish the law (Matthew 5:17). We

RULES VERSUS RELATIONSHIP

Have you ever wondered whether you are good enough, and if so, how that’s measured? Theologically questionable on many levels, the popular Netflix comedy The Good Place has Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell, pictured right, with Ted Danson as Michael) entering heaven, apparently on the basis that her good deeds outweigh her bad deeds. How many people have the same view?

Two thousand years ago, a wealthy ruler asked Jesus, “Good teacher . . . what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

(Mark 10:17). Answering the ruler on his own terms, Jesus told him to keep the commandments. The ruler said he’d done that, citing laws from the last six of the Ten Commandments that deal primarily with relationships—don’t murder or commit adultery, respect other people’s property and speak honestly. But Jesus told this wealthy man that he still lacked

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toddler was transformed. As I sat down to join my wife and daughter at the table the next day, my wife announced that my daughter had something to say to me.

“I’m sorry, Daddy,” she said.

It melted my heart and I instantly forgave her.

God does the same for us when we confess falling short of the perfection called for by the law. And as we draw close to Him and accept the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we can rest assured that we are part of a family that will last forever.

Bjorn Karlman is an Adventist freelance writer who travels the world as a “digital nomad”, living in two to three countries per year with his wife and toddler.

one thing: He said, “Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” (verse 21). That was too much—the rich ruler walked away sadly.

The ethical behaviours that the wealthy ruler listed are all good things, but Jesus demonstrated through this encounter that true goodness is not simply about keeping the rules—it’s about entering body and soul into a relationship with our Creator—“Come, follow me,” Jesus said (verse 21).

Making the same point, the writer of Hebrews says that God “will put [His] laws in [our] minds and write them on [our] hearts” (Hebrews 8:10). This understanding takes commandment-keeping to a new level.

Merely observing the commandments outwardly won’t save us. We need to let God write His laws on our minds and hearts.

That’s what will bring renewal and transformation and, at the appointed time, bring us to the good place God has prepared for us.

JULY 2019 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

THE GOOD PLACE SEASON 4

are just as responsible to obey those Ten Commandments now as people were before Christ died.

That isn’t to say that we as followers of God keep His law flawlessly.

We fail frequently and it is incredibly comforting to know that God is patient with us and more than willing to forgive us when we come to Him, confess our sins and ask for forgiveness (1 John 1:9).

Just recently, before we put our three-year-old to bed one evening, she had been in a bad mood and had lost her cool with me. She had been overtired and no amount of reasoning or reminding her of family rules would change her behaviour.

She was cranky and needed rest. We called it a day and went to bed. After a full night’s sleep, my strong-willed

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THE CUTTING EDGE

UPCOMING

DEVELOPMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 1. emotionally intelligent AI “Behaviour signal processing” will recognise how a person feels.

Using voice analysis, it can pick up patterns of up to 50 different types of emotions.—thenextweb

$

2. driving a hard bargain AI “dynamic pricing” by online retailers can respond to shifts in supply and demand multiple times per day. Researchers say the prices are automatically set higher than competitors on the market.—Ponderwall 3. watch how you shop Marketing companies are developing AI to watch your spending habits in shopping centres. Video screens throughout the complex could then show tailored ads for individuals.—Fox35

TOP 3 SMARTPHONE INNOVATIONS IN 2019 Ever wanted a phone that opens up like a book? The Samsung Galaxy Flex will allow users to either use a smaller display on the outside, or open the phone up to reveal a flexing 4.6 inch screen. The tech isn’t without its troubles; the phone’s release was delayed due to breaking screens.

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FREEPIK

FOLDING PHONES

CHURCHES GO DIGITAL tap and go offering A Catholic church in France has recently installed terminals allowing attendees to donate via credit card. “We realise cash is disappearing. We must adapt to our times”, said treasurer Remi Perrin.

Other churches in France have trialled small EFTPOS machines to be passed around.—Worldcrunch

Messenger chatbots Churches all over the world are adopting social media, but it can be hard to keep track of new followers and messages on Facebook.

Some denominations have been using chatbots to increase engagement with their communities.—Tithe.ly

virtual reality Virtual reality is fast becoming an online meeting place for believers.

The VR Church already worships on weekends, with hundreds of users connecting in. The church also recently witnessed its first online baptism.

—vrscout

GETTING TALLER Smartphones have moved on from a 16:9 aspect ratio to 19:9 in the more recent phones. The trend of phones with taller screens looks to continue with Sony expected to announce the Xperia XZ4, which has a 21:9 aspect ratio. It’s unprecedented and will definitely have a lot of thumbs around the world stretching.

SOUND FROM YOUR SCREEN You’ll put your ear up to your phone when picking up a call, but it won’t be the earspeaker playing sound to you. The LG G8 ThinQ has has a vibrating OLED screen (dubbed Crystal Sound) that allows you to hear the person on the other end. The result frees up space at the top of the device, achieving smaller bezels around the edge of the phone.

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FA IT H

Humble

FAITH If you’re proud of your humility, you’ve missed the point!

BY NATHAN BROWN

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bow simply to get through the door.

In a sense, this is what we do whenever we engage with a formulation or tradition of faith. We submit ourselves to a selection of understandings and practices, history and community, and some kind of Higher Power, Purpose or Personality. These function as a “door of humility”, offering us the opportunity to bow to something larger than ourselves, recognising that we are not the centre of the story. The practices and disciplines of faith are calling us to a more humble way of living.

This is important because humility itself is a slippery kind of virtue. Trying to conjure humility for its own sake is a frustrating quest.

Whenever we notice progress toward humility, we are tempted to be proud of that achievement—and that progress evaporates, possibly even leaving us less humble than where we began.

Christian author C S Lewis pointed out that we often get humil-

ARTMARIE—GETTY IMAGES

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he Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is the oldest continuously used church building in the world. It dates from the fourth century, when Roman Emperor Constantine’s mother visited the Holy Lands to identify locations from the life of Jesus for pilgrimage destinations and church sites. From a distance, the point of entry to the church is not obvious, particularly when the area is crowded with pilgrims and tourists, as Manger Square often is.

In Crusader times, the large church door was lowered to reduce the risks of attack, particularly from marauders on horseback, then lowered again to its present dimensions.

The outlines of the former doorways remain visible in the perpetually makeshift stonework above. Currently only able to admit one person at a time and the top of the doorway only reaching chest height, it is known as the “door of humility” as everyone entering the church must

ity the wrong way around, thinking “that humility means pretty women trying to believe that they are ugly and clever men trying to believe they are fools”. Of course, this kind of self-talk fails the test of basic truthfulness, but, more significantly, the focus remains on ourselves. Thus, the need for a “door of humility”— something beyond ourselves, perhaps even beyond our culture, that causes us to bow by way of entry.

While often felt and held personally, faith engages us with ideas,

beliefs and practices that are outside ourselves. Most faiths are founded in old stories or revered scriptures that usually stand in contrast with and critique of much of our contemporary lives and cultures. Such strangeness challenges the assumptions we have grown up with and unconsciously imbibed from the voices that surround us. These ancient but enduring ideas offer a different lens through which to see our world and question what we would otherwise automatically accept as most valuable, good and true.

Belying our hyper-­ individualism and sense of self-sufficiency in the West, faith also pushes us into community, necessarily engaging fellow seekers and believers as well as the generations of the faithful who have believed before us. We realise that we are by no means the first to ask the big questions about life and death, meaning and purpose. And for all our supposed sophistication and technology, it is unlikely that we will discover answers that are dramatically different from faith that has been held in diverse places and times in the past or in many other places around us today. Indeed, we might well have lost some of the vital elements of historic faith and JULY 2019 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

57

kind of religious-cloaked power that can learn from our fellow faithful in too easily paves the way for oppresdifferent contexts today.

By definition, faith also (and sion, exploitation and abuse. always) invites—or compels—us to Entering into the project of faith encounter a Higher Power, Purpose requires a posture of humility and, or Personality, something so wholly even as the space opens out much other as to transcend our grasp, unlarger on the other side of the door, we cannot afford to forget that derstanding or control. This reality we begin—and we continue—by dwarfs our individual lives and helps submitting us recognise our ourselves and our common lot lives to an idea, a with our fellow story, a purpose human beings. and perhaps a It also asks us Personality that to acknowledge is so much larger the limits of our These ancient than we are. The knowledge. Faith authentic pracoffers a glimpse but enduring of a reality in tice and progress ideas offer a which we might of faith must play a small part, always bring different lens but which will us back to that through which to always be so small doorway much larger than into this larger see our world . . . us. The best of reality. our faith is an Humility is admission that, not about trying as the apostle Paul confessed, “we to believe things that we know to know only in part” (1 Corinthians be untrue, it is being truthful about 13:9). Our faith is both the bridge what we don’t know. True humility that spans our unknowing and moticomes with looking away from and outside of ourselves. As such, humilvation for the journey toward greater knowledge of the ultimate Reality we ity is the doorway to faith. And if seek that we might even have heard faith is not humble, it is not faith. calling to us.

Too often in our world, in history Nathan Brown is book editor of the Signs Publishing Company in Warburton, Victoria. His new book, Of and even in churches and other Falafels and Following Jesus, describes his recent venues in which faith is practised, journey to the biblical and historical sites of the Middle East. New and additional subscribers to Signs faith has been contorted to make us magazine who use the code FALAFEL will receive a proud. When this is the case, we are free copy of the book (while stocks last). Subscribe online at signsofthetimes.org.au. no longer talking about faith, but a

“

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/ S7/19

R E CI P E

Couscous-Stuffed Butternut Pumpkins PREPARATION TIME: 20 mins COOKING TIME: 60 mins SERVES: 4 INGREDIENTS

2 small butternut pumpkins 2 cups reduced salt vegetable stock 1 cup Israeli couscous 1 teaspoon olive oil 1 1/2 cups chopped kale 1/4 cup pomegranate arils

1 1/2 tablespoon flaked almonds, toasted 1 1/2 tablespoons coconut flakes, toasted 1 1/2 tablespoons nutritional yeast 1 teaspoon lemon zest

METHOD

1. Halve the pumpkins and scoop out seeds. Score the flesh with a sharp knife.

2. Place pumpkin halves on an oven tray and bake in a hot oven at 200°C for 45–50 minutes or until pumpkin flesh is cooked through.

3. Place stock in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Add couscous, reduce heat and simmer covered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir, cover and set aside.

4. Heat oil in a skillet and saute kale until wilted.

5. Stir kale and remaining ingredients through couscous.

6. Scoop out majority of pumpkin flesh with a spoon, leaving 1.25 cm pumpkin around the border and 2 cm at the base. Transfer couscous mixture into pumpkin shells.

7. Return back to oven and bake in hot oven at 200°C for 10 minutes or until warmed through.

PER SERVE: Energy 1250 kJ; Cal 299; Protein 10 g; Fat 20 g; Saturated fat 3 g; Carbohydrate 22 g; Sugars 16 g; Sodium 360 mg; Potassium 640 mg; Calcium 160 mg; Iron 5 mg.

Recipe courtesy of Sanitarium Health Food Company. Visit sanitarium.com.au or sanitarium.co.nz and subscribe to Recipe of the Week for a delicious plant-powered recipe in your inbox each week.

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TIP

Choose sm butternut pu all mpkins, otherwise serving size will be too large.

Keep leftov er pumpkin a side or in to use as scones Israeli cous , sweet loaf, etc. cous is the brother of big the more co mmon couscous.

It needs to be cooked rath er than soaked.

JULY 2019 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

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FUN

CROSSWORD How closely have you been reading? Each keyword in this puzzle is also contained within this edition of Signs of the Times.

Happy digging!

EDUCATION.COM

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Hint: 11 Down

CROSSWORD CLUES

ACROSS 3 To contribute work for free 5 The story of Jesus Christ’s birth 7 Organisation that lists World Heritage sites 8 Type of gun with a shorter muzzle than a rifle 9 Masculine Germanic name meaning “precious” 12 Word describing destruction of an ecosystem 13 A traditionally Arab dish made from semolina DOWN 1 To neglect because of feeeling satisfied 2 Live bacteria beneficial to digestive system 4 Virus that killed around 11,300 people between 2014 and 2016 6 To not have contact with other people 9 Type of cord that connects music playback device to a speaker 10 To be required back by a specific time 11 Minor satellites floating in space

SUDOKU EASY

1 5

7 4

7

2

8

6

9 5

4

4 9

3

2

7 7

2

8

1

5

1 4

6

4 8

5

6

2 8

HARD

5

4 5

3

1

8

4 1

9

5 7

4

9 9

6

2

2

3

4 5

1 5

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SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU JULY 2019 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES

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UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES & DIPLOMAS Associate Degree in Theological Studies Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching (Birth - 12 years) Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) Bachelor of Business Bachelor of Ministry and Theology Bachelor of Nursing Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching Bachelor of Theology Diploma of General Studies VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING Certificate III in Outdoor Recreation Diploma of Outdoor Recreation POSTGRADUATE DEGREES COURSE WORK Graduate Certificate in Lifestyle Medicine Graduate Diploma in Lifestyle Medicine Graduate Diploma of Ministry and Theology Master of Education Master of Nursing Master of Teaching (Primary) Master of Teaching (Secondary) Master of Leadership and Management RESEARCH Doctor of Philosophy (PHD) Master of Philosophy Get your qualification in a nurturing environment at Avondale.

To find out more about our face-to-face and distance education courses or to apply online, visit avondale.edu.au phone +61 2 4980 2377 or email study@avondale.edu.au